# SF Books You'd Like To See As Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2005, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337 "2005-02-16T10:08:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/41 "2005-02-16T22:33:31Z")
There are rumours of a **Halo** {the video game} movie, which would pretty much gazump **Ringworld** being filmed, since it would win in the audience recognition stakes - pity, since the setting of Halo is pretty obviously, um, “inspired” by Larry Niven. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/42 "2005-02-16T22:38:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Spider Robinson’s _Mindkiller._ Or maybe something about Callahan’s Place! 🙂 The Callahan stories could provide the basis for a great TV series. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/43 "2005-02-16T22:38:40Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Spider Robinson’s _Mindkiller._ Or maybe something about Callahan’s Place! 🙂 Funny, I see the Callahan stories more as a TV serie (cable, of course) than a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/44 "2005-02-16T22:41:12Z")
As mentioned in [this previous thread,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=267101&highlight=kraken) I’d like to see \*\*The Kraken Wakes \*\* (by John Wyndham) - particularly the scene of the sea tanks’ attack on Escondido. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/45 "2005-02-16T23:10:07Z")
From a directorial standpoint, I would want to see Octavia Butler’s **Wildseed**. The two main characters are a spirit that jumps from body to body and a shapechanger. I would love to see a director pull off keeping several actors of different genders and ethnic background playing the same character and doing it convincingly. I would also nominated Joan Vinge’s **The Snow Queen** , because of the wonderful characters, and wouldn’t rely too heavily on special effects. And I’m going to cast a “NO” vote for **Rendevous with Rama**. It was a great book, but I can’t see it translating well to film, at least if they stay true to the novel. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/46 "2005-02-16T23:27:01Z")
> [@Odinoneeye](#): > > And I’m going to cast a “NO” vote for **Rendevous with Rama**. It was a great book, but I can’t see it translating well to film, at least if they stay true to the novel. At least you spelled it right. A lot of my interest comes from the original guy, the one who made those characters out of robots. He fascinated me. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/47 "2005-02-16T23:27:14Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > The Callahan stories could provide the basis for a great TV series. I **swear** that your post wasn’t there when I posted mine. Goes to prove that weird minds post alike 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hakuna\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hakuna\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hakuna_Matata)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/48 "2005-02-16T23:38:20Z")
> [@The Mad Hermit](#): > > Niven and Pournelle’s _Lucifer’s Hammer_ (or even _Footfall_) would have made a much better movie than _Armageddon_ or _Deep Impact._ Harry the Mailman would have been a great character, I could see Jeff Daniels in the role. couldn’t agree more. I thought this book would make a very good movie. maybe one day. And I agree–that Jeff Daniels would make a very good Harry the Mailman! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/49 "2005-02-16T23:50:09Z")
Oh, I forgot to mention Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Since it was clearly based on a couple of television scripts for some British program no one has ever heard of 🙂 it shouldn’t be too hard to adapt. If the Hitchhiker’s movie goes well, perhaps… Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/50 "2005-02-17T00:11:38Z")
Dan Simmons’ Hyperion/Endymion saga as a series of movies. Robert Charles Wilson’s _The Harvest_. Not much sci-fi but great human drama. Stephen King’s Dark Tower. Okay, that’s stretching the sci-fi definition, but what the hell. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/51 "2005-02-17T00:12:46Z")
Crap! Forget Robinson’s Mars trilogy. Each book (Red, Green, & Blue) could be a year-long TV series. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/52 "2005-02-17T00:43:08Z")
Hah! I _thought_ your ame was from _The Man Who Never Missed_! I was right! Any of those books would make for good eye candy funky cyber-movies. Maybe _The 97th Step_? Haven’t read them for years. If I can stray into fantasy, I’d like _A Song For Arbonne_, and _Sabriel_. Lots of room for cool special effects in _Sabriel_- Charter magic and zombies and the Mogget. What the heck- do _Lirael_ and _Abhorsen_, too. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/53 "2005-02-17T01:42:33Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > Hah! I _thought_ your ame was from _The Man Who Never Missed_! I was right! > > Any of those books would make for good eye candy funky cyber-movies. Maybe _The 97th Step_? Haven’t read them for years. > > If I can stray into fantasy, I’d like _A Song For Arbonne_, and _Sabriel_. Lots of room for cool special effects in _Sabriel_- Charter magic and zombies and the Mogget. What the heck- do _Lirael_ and _Abhorsen_, too. The 97th step would be fun too. you are right, it would be eye candy. It is “light” sci-fi. None-the-less, I’m disappointed that Steve Perry doesn’t seem to be writing original stuff anymore (mostly Star Wars and Net Force stuff.) I read Sabriel when I was in the hospital two summers ago. It was a tough read for me, but that was because I was on some major pain medicine and couldn’t think well. I may have to go back and read it again. I haven’t read the other two yet. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/54 "2005-02-17T02:13:05Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > Oh, I forgot to mention Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Since it was clearly based on a couple of television scripts for some British program no one has ever heard of 🙂 it shouldn’t be too hard to adapt. If the Hitchhiker’s movie goes well, perhaps… The danger there is that DNA wrote the screenplay for _Hitchhiker’s_. We’re unlikely to get one as good for _Gently_. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/55 "2005-02-17T02:34:42Z")
I read one recently by a lesser known author, which I really enjoyed. A single book, not a series. **Mainline** – Deborah Christian. Had too much going on to fit into a 2 hour movie, but when I was reading it, I was picturing it as a mini-series (and thinking it would make a good one). Including planning it out in my head how many hours it would need, and where the break points would be for each segment. Anybody else read this one? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/56 "2005-02-17T03:36:01Z")
> [@](#): > > To be honest I’ve always wanted to see film of “…The Gods Themselves…” > > Hey, we’ve got all this CGI technology. Could we not put it to use making squares and triangles into interesting interesting characters? > > Wasn’t that what the story was inviting us to do? I dunno, I think it would be an interesting challenge. Did you know Asimov later wrote a story about a director making a CGI version of this story? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/57 "2005-02-17T04:23:51Z")
I would like to see more William Gibson and Phillip K Dick movies done. If they were done properly. If the guy who made Donnie Darko or the director of Memento did a Pillip K Dick book it would be really good. (maybe) Oh and Gibson with Keanu Reeves would be nice to see. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/58 "2005-02-17T05:57:44Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > The danger there is that DNA wrote the screenplay for _Hitchhiker’s_. We’re unlikely to get one as good for _Gently_. Yeah, but the screenplay for _Gently_ pretty much writes itself, seeing as how it was more or less adapted from two Dr. Who screenplays that Adams wrote. It could be done, and in the style of Adams, by the right screenwriter. Whether someone could turn it into a credible movie, and whether the opportunity could even exist is a question for the future. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/59 "2005-02-17T14:01:00Z")
> [@Waenara](#): > > I strongly second the nominations of **Double Star** by Heinlein, and **Left Hand of Darkness** by Le Guin. They’re both more psychological, character-driven stories that wouldn’t require a _huge_ budget, but can still have quite spectacular environments if the budget is available. > > **Snow Crash** by Neal Stephenson would also make a great movie, with special effects and a budget more like _Minority Report_ than, say, _Eternal Sunshine_. I certainly wouldn’t complain about any of the three, if they’re done well, but the gender-bending in LHoD would be tough. We’d need a full cast of very androgynous actors, at least one of whom has to come into kemmer during the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337/60 "2005-02-17T22:05:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Did you know Asimov later wrote a story about a director making a CGI version of this story? I’m sure he did know, since he refers to the characters as squares and triangles. They’re never described as such in _The Gods Themselves_, only in “Gold” (where the director comments that they’re not described in the book, so he was free to interpret them). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sf-books-youd-like-to-see-as-movies/290337.md?page=4)